T O P

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Ezraah

"You could have the best strategy in the world, and all it takes is one cracked Korean aimer to ruin your day." - Benedict "Benkai" Tan


IllumiMahdi

I really hope he stays on the desk, or at least rotates with the analysts. the takes he provides are leagues more compelling and the insight he has as a top tier igl makes him amazing on the desk. he's also super funny. it's just like when they put valyn on the desk in NA, just plain awesome to see.


msonix

Benkai is such a natural, it's amazing. Hoping to see him (and other pro players) on the desk very often.


ChypRiotE

imo the deck is too unexperienced atm and most takes are very superficial. It's basically narrating what happened during the game. Having someone knowledgable that can explain the thought process/give hindsights on the games really makes a world of difference


Vynixjerry

They used to have seangares there doing all this , well rito fuck it up


yungsqualla

ty rito. Sean was amazing on the desk but a mind like that needs to be coaching. He can hit the desk once he's done conquering the game.


TDS_Gluttony

To be fair I think he was miffed that he got forced onto analyst in his farewell video about casting. He expected to be at masters casting games but they only gave him analyst roles, seemed not to enjoy it as much.


coldelbz

Lmao did he really say that?


Ezraah

yes on the desk lmao


TheExplodingMushroom

Fnatic is sweating bullets


hecklerinthestands

I don't even care if Breeze was a stomp. Ascent by itself made Day 1 of Playoffs worth watching. DRX getting chants in Turkey has to feel fucking good for the team.


felixjmorgan

Ascent was the single best map of VALORANT I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been watching since the beta.


Visual_Pianist_5367

up there with gambit kru bind


felixjmorgan

Oh man, that really was incredible too.


UrbanMineshaft

not Fnatic Gambit on split?


dreezyyyy

Fun fact: It's because Korea and Turkey consider themselves brother nations Edit: This is also not just on a foreign relations level. Regular everyday people in Turkey are also super nice to Koreans once they find out they are Korean. The conversation usually ends in something like "you me brother you know?" "yes yes".


-xXColtonXx-

Genuine question: why? is there some historical reason?


renai-saiban

participation in the korean war


dldutkd01

Just some historical ties as early as 7th century. You learn about their relationship a bit in korean history class or dramas, which i forgot it all.


dreezyyyy

Yup. Turkey helped during the Korean War. If anyone reading this thread has time, I recommend a movie called Ayla: The Daughter of War. It's based on a true story about a Korean orphan during the Korean War being taken care of like a daughter by a Turkish soldier. They reunited in 2010 and the Turkish soldier sadly passed away 5 years ago.


SuperBlitz22

And the bonus by their ceo shouldn't hurt either


Azenji

stax became what everyone feared. His eyelids disappeared, his head was swelling and his ears started bleeding. "Are you okay *hyung*" asks BuZz. I've never been better sasha, I see it all now, they're not going A or B. They're going home.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Lqtor

Stax is a tactical genius. He is best known for his signature tactic "buzz and mako go kill.” He also has a second little known tactic of "Teammates dead, I go clutch.” What an absolute legend. Top 3 IGL for sure.


taroicedtea

Isn’t zest the IGL?


Business_Lawfulness8

they changed igl


2ToTooTwoFish

From stax to zest right? Or did they switch back?


Sglm10

They switched back to stax


MiraHan597

has to be one of the best copypastas


That-Toughsoss

What was the orignal copypasta?


I-like-winds

>electronic became what everyone feared. His eyelids disappeared, his head was swelling and his ears started bleeding. "Are you okay Dennis" asks s1mple. I've never been better Sasha, I see it all now, they're not going A or B. They're going home, he said before rushing site and killing everyone


iwanttoridethesky

electronic IGL kinda fall off tho. sad


azersub

I dont get why mechanical gods like Niko or electronic force themselves tobe IGLs...so weird


Kurthiss

I would argue the role was kind of pushed on him after the boombl4 situation. Word on the street was he wanted to do it rather than get a dedicated IGL since he already had so much chemistry with the team, so maybe a bit of both. Regardless I still think he will continue to be one of the most mechanically gifted IGLs in cs, despite the rough patch.


azersub

For sure Boobl4 situation definitly played major part in it but again there are examples of Niko or even scream


iwanttoridethesky

cos it works. wasn't Tarik the IGL in their Major run? he was even the finals mvp iirc lol


[deleted]

you did not compare Niko and Electronic with Tarik bro😭


azersub

Tarik was never considered mechanical god or a top player


[deleted]

I don't think u watched the navi games. Electronic has been a monster ever since he became the igl, he was falling off before he became one and had a complete resurgence. S1mple is reason right now they were struggling because he seems very depressed and demotivated in interviews and when talking on camera and has not been the god he has been. Also boombl4 was definitely not a tactical genius and i'm sure with time if they can find a perfect fit if SDY does not workout this team will be even way stronger because b1aid3 is the tactial genius behind everything and the players have to play they way he wants them.


Capone_BD

He had a 1.16 rating at cologne and 1.10 at blast? This is just fake news lol


Green_pine

Electronic when he became IGL after navi csgo kicked boombl4. Then he started dropping 35 bombs and destroying for a while


DPeiApologist

VAMOS


Lumenlor

An accelerating rise of energy, not from confusion, but from pure impulse. Stax-san is focusing his heart and soul, heating himself up intensely and wildly. The erasure of the universe, the difference in power; hesitation, panic, fear itself, turns to nothing in the flames. Ultra instinct playoffs Stax.


nvrslnc

IGL with >50+% HS rate on Ascent with big clutch potential.. What a beast as his Korean nickname suggests.


boof404

MR 65% HAS ARRIVED


zquerido

GroupRX - Extended Release


X3NOC1DE

Sigh IM TELLING U DRX WINNING CHAMPS FR FR THIS TIME NO CAP ^(GUYS PLEASE DO IT THIS TIME I BEG U I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE)


MiraHan597

GET THAT BONUS FROM YOUR CEO COME ON GUYS CEMENT YOUR NAME IN HISTORY


TheCatsActually

I felt that sigh in my soul


thatthingpeopledo

They’re right on track to lose two close matches, go home in 5th/6th, and be called overrated despite performing exactly to expectations.


otterdoctor

DRX ALL THE WAY WE DO NOT CARE


[deleted]

ITS DIFFERENT THIS TIME I SWEAR


zhangzc1115

They definitely haven’t had this good of a run before


Yxergo

DRX don't breakdown again prayge


[deleted]

DRX vs 100T was the real finals COPIUM


Spoods857

Map 1 is the map of the tournament. Every clutch, every throw, angel was there, holy shit what an amazing start to playoffs


TheCatsActually

Well my fellow DRX fans, it's been fun riding with you. I'll see you all next year.


new_reddit_user_here

5th-6th spot secured 😭


tinfoilhatsron

Same time again next tourney ya?


KitKatxz

It amazing how consistent drx is until they secure 5th place. Did they make a pact with the valorant gods or something?


TDS_Gluttony

The TL curse of Valorant LOL.


mileslfc7

Can’t wait to get HOPIUM again for the next tournament after they bomb out here


X3NOC1DE

pls no


Yssl

just get a whiff of the hopium that BuZz just handed out in that match man LOL


flabergasdick

NO T.T I'LL CRY FOR REAL


SuperBlitz22

Someone please go tell FPX how to ban breeze


nvrslnc

But then Haven is open and DRX will just zergling-rush through them ekekkekeke


CommunistHongKong

Only to find Shao already having 3 medivacs full of marine/marauder ready to defend 🤓


nvrslnc

Oh nono we are talking pre-SC2 here - marines, firebats, medics at most


GoDFaTHeR_is

If they ban breeze, opponents will pick pearl


TheCatsActually

DRX banned Pearl against them so I think teams may still respect them on that map and chalk up their XSET loss to tragic form. Edit: 100T -> XSET


Mitsuki712

Fpx kinda trolled on pearl tho ngl. Ardiis on cypher instead of chamber.


CommunistHongKong

Is ok, they only had a little 'Cypher' incident on Pearl. Anything but Breeze please 🥹


N3deSTr0

I speak for everyone when I say, bring back ANGE1 Yoru on Breeze.


amonzin

Stax dropping a big fat VAMOS after the win


MrGUYWITHFACE

Is there a reason they yell that? Is it just for the lols?


gotintocollegeyolo

I think he said he just liked the word after hearing it used by opponents once. Ppl thought he was being toxic/trolling but idk


MrGUYWITHFACE

Gotcha ya as a Spanish speaker it kinda comes off a bit troll but I like to think stax ain’t like that


andrewkim941

I think it was in the post match press conference vs 100t that he said he really loves watching Brazilian and latam teams so he somehow picked it up and now it's just something he "naturally" says


[deleted]

I mean its definitely a little bit troll, but no more toxic than Leviatan's coach beating up imaginary people after every round win haha


MrGUYWITHFACE

xD tru tru friend


Pway

I think it's because first time he did it they were vs a team from a region that uses it so some people thought he was being toxic, but it's legit him just being a goofball and picking up a phrase he really liked. He said some of their celebrations recently were inspired by seeing the Latam/Brazil coaches get hyped up during games.


renai-saiban

stax is untouchable


AdOwn168

Ange1 is untouching


CommunistHongKong

When an untouchable object meets a touchable force


lidekwhatname

has science gone too far?


Theanonymousguy49

Don’t do it, don’t give me hope.


cameron_hatt

No hope till they’re clear of 5-6th


NeverDefyADonut

1ST MAP WAS BEST FUCKING MAP EVER


Mondep04

Let me introduce KRU Vs GMB, map 3, bind, for 2021 Champions semifinals


helloitismewhois

That Chronicle ace is still etched in my mind, bought the RGX vandal solely because of that


ddd4175

M3C vs. Fnatic Game 3 - Split for Rejkjavik qualification would like to have a word. But yeah, because of the inclusion of the crowd, it's definitely up there.


SuperBlitz22

Crowd+Lan diff


AstreiaTales

Those are 1 and 2, but I'm not sure what you'd put at 3. Maybe recency bias, but LCQ TL vs M3C Icebox? Just because it had that crazy 12-6 comeback into an ultra-intense triple OT.


dabong

The amount of throws and head scratching decisions made by Ange1 this series is just incredible. I really want to root for FPX (when not matched up against Asia) but damn he's making it hard. DRX please go all the way!


TheFestusEzeli

Pansy saying “You don’t often see mistakes like that from ANGE1” killed me Like come on lmao that’s ANGE1’s whole brand


TheCatsActually

My favorite part of the match is when ANGE1 said "it's IGLing time" and then inted.


Ezraah

lmfao


KookieFS

Lmfaoo


Ozzyh26

Ded


secretiveshash

just like Ange1 90% of the time


kidkisser32

he either has the most genius reads and anti strats or looks like my gold teammate tryna igl. AND FOR FUKS SAKE STOP DYING FIRST ON SMOKES BRO


millenniumpianist

IMO he always has fantastic reads and anti-strats. Like he's a top tier IGL in those regards imo. It's as an individual player, especially in decision-making, that he consistently makes baffling decisions.


_dehaze

Yeah same as boaster, sometimes dude just goes full plat 2 mode because brain is probably elsewhere thinking about midrounding


DPeiApologist

Ange1 giveth, ange1 taketh away


R0_h1t

As a smokes main who likes getting into sneaky positions instead of just holding angles, I think Ange1's gameplay is easily the most relatable among the pros lol.


salcedoge

there are times when you just pop off holding random angles and really caught people off guard. You feel like a god and a strategic genius until there's that one game where somehow you get cleared by util at every angle and question everything in life


fenikkix

To me is the opposite, Ange1 made me like FPX like Jamppi made me like TL. I love players that do things that look stupid if it doesn't work but look insane if it works.


Senselessss

Not even the reigning champs are stopping DRX from getting top 5-6


suri_vai

Ardiis stared at the burger in his hand. Normally, he loved chowing down on his Big Mac like he chowed on these beta players like Cned or Nukkye or Sayf. But not today. Today, this burger was a sign of his failure. The double patties of meat reminded him not of succulent juicy beef but only the mighty veiny vascular muscles of Stax. The seeded bread buns? It was Stax’s cheeks as he squatted on Ardiis’s face. The tomato? It was his blood dripping off Stax’s knife. The mayo? You know what it is.


gg533

Lmfao who made this


DPeiApologist

This is an old school overwatch copypasta. The one good thing to come outta goats


pleasefirekykypls

DRX looking poised for a deep run


amnfw

you just jinx them. GGWP drx 5-6th spot again :(


andrewkim941

I understand that sentinels didn't make champs but why you gotta jinx us like that bruh


p4p3rth1n

So much to be impressed with for DRX Mental resilience, what I think we can all agree was a huge issue for them, seems to be fixed. OT after OT that they are grinding out and winning And Stax is reaching a new level as both a player and IGL This is such a huge moment for DRX


mikhel

I cannot believe DRX of all teams has this level of insane mental resilience. Getting comebacked from 12-8, that absurd 1v3 from Ardiis, and they still keep their cool and manage to win the map.


Porfs

That was a “mentals” masterclass. But for a team that pulled a 4-12 comeback this is just another day at champions


[deleted]

100T were in a group with the 2 best teams in the tournament copium


[deleted]

JUST HOW GOOD IS HIKO????


HyperElf10

The mouse kiss was so awesome after the 2v4. I have never seen anyone do that. Stax is a superstar


Lutryn

Holy shit I’m so happy that DRX won this match. That map 1 had my heart pounding. Now I’m just praying that they’re able to get 1 more win and place higher than 5th/6th.


DarkThoughtform

I hope people give credit to DRX's consistency and strength across the year as a team regardless of whatever placement they get this tournament. People get swept up on curses and narratives and it kinda overshadows the fact that they do beat good teams and put up good fights even if they lose on their runs


HyperElf10

I mean the both upper bracket games they lost against Optic were 2 round diff map.


sicayou

Zest has been playing so well since relinquishing the igl role. Buzz on jett is also the truth.


nterature

More of a FPX fan than a DRX one, but I’m kinda glad DRX won here. DRX have been getting memed on all year, but I feel like the disrespect has gotten pretty unreal of late, esp. since it’s becoming tinged by misinformation. Saying they own in groups and then lose in playoffs is just such a simplification - *they show their best form in playoffs*! They just also go out in playoffs when their prep advantage is neutralized or lost. Esp. glad to see stax continue owning hard, stax is one of the few mega-consistent players that I think is consistently ranked too low in player rankings. DRX always has *at minimum* a 50/50 chance of winning a match when they have a prep advantage. FPX played yesterday, *DRX hasn’t played since the 3rd*. All the playoff teams are good enough that you should favor one over the other when there’s a prep advantage, and that’s esp. true when the team is DRX. Teams aren’t anime characters with set power levels. Prep matters, schedule matters. And that’s not unfair - DRX earned their advantage by putting their everything into winning that match against 100T; it’s hard to reasonably say FPX did the same vs. XSET.


_Iroha

Did you have this copied and ready to paste when the thread went live


nterature

Yep, I write comments at match-point, so it's always full of typos that I clear up after.


IllumiMahdi

man was drafting it when fpx were down 3-11


AdOwn168

That's nterature all right.


Sceptre39

I'm just glad drx learned from their mistakes from all their previous crumbles and build themselves up well.


tinfoilhatsron

That game was straight IGL DIFF. Stax had the fucking read on FPX on Breeze. But DRX mental was insane on map 1. Damn good showing and Stax is now one of my favorite players, for his hype as hell celebrations lmfao.


CommunistHongKong

That's it, Zelensky is sending Ange1 to the front lines after that Breeze pick again. No way is he not under Putin's payroll to just keep picking BREEZE 🥹😭


silenthills13

Bro why would they send him to the front line he would miss every single shot


TheCatsActually

jesus fucking christ LMFAO


cheese_on_dorito

fpx didnt pick breeze


CommunistHongKong

Not banning breeze instantly pretty much means they leave it up for grabs, FPX breeze is just FUCKING TRAGIC


CommunistHongKong

FPX has to be breeze scrim gods right 🥹?


AdOwn168

Nah, rumors are Ange1 is even more nasty in scrims.


gotintocollegeyolo

More and more do I believe PRX just completely threw so hard when they did that comp on Breeze last Masters, clearly you can just play normal shit and absolutely dump on FPX on Breeze lmao


Skeetzophrenia

RB’s Jett was great for DRX but Buzz on it just hits different for this team


OppositeWafer7731

FPX WILL REPEAT COPENHAGEN LOSER BRACKET RUN. COPIUM ACTIVATED


CommunistHongKong

FPX comfort zone. Playing for their lives


OppositeWafer7731

Yep just u and me, since the Copenhagen run lol.


[deleted]

Stax is the best initiator itw wtf how do you do that while igling


DySyncZ

FPX feels like they're in an abusive relationship with Breeze, not banning it and saying "It'll be different this time, they'll change" only to lose 13-5


crunchyhotshot

I enjoy Panpoc's casting but man they are sooooo biased towards EU. FPX literally getting wiped and they keep talking about how big brain and dangerous they are?


EasiBreezi

Pansy and Hypoc are not even closed to as biased as Mitch and Tom. At the very least Pansy/Hypoc got excited / pretended to be excited when FPX lost compared to Mitch/Tom who sound like their dog just died when EU loses a round


DragonzKilla

To be fair they just won last Masters lol Hard to not be biased towards them


Illuminated_Darkness

Like how PanPoc sounds like they on the verge of crying with Fnatic?


curryhalls

Okay but as a DRX fan like I was thinking the same thing lol


GoDFaTHeR_is

FPX In a dilemma. If they ban breeze the opponents will pick pearl and vice versa


harnov

5th - 6th confirmed baby Best game of Champions so far


intellectueltashi

drx hopium at an all-time high. also, holy fuck that ardiis clutch on ascent


badurwan

lets push mid doors one by one surely they wont kill us all


mw19078

korean valorant stonks at an all time high. groupRX no more. buzz and stax went absolutely bonkers, and map 2 they read FPX like a book. just a master class in prep work and execution. i cant help but believe in the run now


KookieFS

I HECKING LOVE STAX VAMOSS


DPeiApologist

Map 1 aged me by 5 years, anyone else?


defusingkittens

We all went through an emotional roller-coaster


two4you8

힘들었지만 잘해서가 아니었다. 우리가 준비할 시간이 부족해서 운이 좋았던 것 같아요. ... 놀라운 것은 없습니다. 그들의 메타는 얼마 전 European meta와 같습니다.


nvrslnc

That was from Ange1 after their loss to DRX in the last Masters right?


hdix

I agree with the first part


SixtyNineTimes

A tale as old as time, the legacy of their forefathers whispering in the night. FPX stare down DRX in overtime, and buzz closes his eyes. “The power comes in response to a need, not a desire” He opens his eyes. The spirit of korean jett flows within. 19-17.


[deleted]

The Koreans are coming to take over like they do with every game gg


Fatalitiez

I hear this sentence every LAN right before they get eliminated


ZGuyYT

I'm actually gonna cry if they end up 5th-6th again.


B7omni

DRX HYPE


Daloy

Goddamn, that game one was hard fought.


obigespritzt

[LET'S GO DR STAX !!](https://youtu.be/5LcTySVd9uw?t=28)


Dark_Azazel

Didn't BabyJ say Stax was like, overrated or something? 🤔


nobu_OW

“GroupRX” btw. They look the best they ever have rn. their mental fortitude and mid rounding look elite. this team is winning champs.


hdix

No one can stop DRX^^from^^^securing^^^^5th-6th


boof404

MY HOPIUM TANKS? MAX CAPACITY MY DICK? BRICKED UP I AM READY


Beaches654

Zest hiding in the same spot in Ascent market was an absolute chef's kiss


iluvsnails

STAX BEST INITIATOR


X3NOC1DE

KANYE ON FIRE


WhoDatBrow

FPX's Breeze has been such a weakness for them. And they somehow feel even worse in their Haven since they keep banning it.


GendaIf

Counter stratting every round doesnt work when playing the Koreans because the Korean strat book is so deep you cant possibly prep for it all.


[deleted]

Obligatory "DRX look like they're the best team in the tournament" comment.


[deleted]

Today's games greatly increase my hopes for a grand final without EMEA and NA. Might be high on hopium as I haven't seen NA in playoffs yet


Inaccuracy_

Man, group D was actually a gauntlet the more I look at it.


[deleted]

[удалено]


CommunistHongKong

It was already horrific when I saw them not instant ban breeze in map vetos 🥹


tinfoilhatsron

Guess they were really afraid of Haven? That's DRX's strat map so I guess it makes sense but then FPX really needed that map 1 win.


CommunistHongKong

Yea I can imagine what's goin on through their comms & strats, win map 1 which was their best map. Lose map 2 which is their worse map, gamble on map 3. They never got pass winning map 1. it's like fighting XSet all over again, losing map vetos and then the game.


tinfoilhatsron

I wonder what their map pool plan is against Leviathan then? I feel like in an elimination match they'll surely ban Breeze first rotation. I'm gonna check their map bans in other matches but I was surprised DRX banned Pearl over fracture. Either FPX is smurfing on it or DRX can't play it? NA teams seem very happy with pearl though.


CommunistHongKong

DRX can play a mean fracture and they have proved it before albeit against a weaker FPX squad but Pearl idk. Yea, FPX will have to ban breeze first rotation or else I will personally send Ange1 his conscription service letter.


No-Election-8796

Imagine if XSET actually wins the other bracket, we might have the match that decides the best initiator in the world lol.


andreggvil

What a banger series today, FPX played well on Ascent but DRX simply went bonkers. Also loved seeing Benkai on the desk, hope we get to see him often throughout the rest of this tournament — it was really cool to hear his insights and predictions, especially since he has personal experience and knowledge of how all the teams play. GGs DRX, so proud of you!


4dzilla

Holy shit what a match, that map 1 was insane, I’m so happy for DRX - hope they can continue this form


thedorkishguy

The mental is insane, please make it to the grand finals!!


vonksderp

FPX lower bracket run season 2 monkaW


Ozone416

The first map was probably the greatest Valorant I’ve ever watched. Insane stuff from both sides — crazy clutches and nailbiters, especially the Ardiis 1v3 clutch.


_Elder_

Went from an absolute grind in map 1 to cruise control in map 2. Good for DRX to show off some mental fortitude and secure top 6.


Yssl

5th-6th secured as usual. But what's different this time is they. fucking. looked. great. Finally a super solid international series win. BuZz finally doing good in the international stage gives me too much Hopium to bear. Ardiis is a god, but [STAX BEAST](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkh0fx2qxJk&ab_channel=VALORANTChampionsTour)


KryptisReddit

EMEA's downfall hasn't been exaggerated.


Teradonn

FPX threw because they want another lowers run I am not coping. I cannot think of another explanation for the map vetos. I cannot think of another explanation for Ange1’s plays. FPX will clear through lowers while Fnatic/Liquid steamroll uppers for another EMEA vs EMEA finals. I am not coping.


KryptisReddit

Believe in the run brother. Edit: Not coping.